Pitched as the game to reach out to the rest of the world, former Australian wicketkeeper-batsman Adam Gilchrist feels administrators should force for Twenty20 cricket to be included in the Olympics from 2020.
"This may seem like a pipe dream but it is a potential reality. It doesn’t matter where the 2020 Olympic Games are held but many of us who’ve experienced international Twenty20 cricket and the IPL are convinced that cricket should bid to become an Olympic sport in time for the 2020 Olympic Games, wherever they’re held," GIlchrist wrote in his column for Deccan Herald.
Gilchrist says that after a prolonged hiatus from the pinnacle event in world sport (Cricket was included only once in the Olympics in 1900), the time has come for the Gentleman's game to be a permanent part, especially with the advent of Twenty20.
"Now is the time for the 10 full member-nations of the ICC to plan for the development of the sport over the next 100 years. Over the next century, the challenge for all of us who love the game is to spread the word of cricket to parts of the globe that have never heard of it and currently don’t play our sport," Gilchrist, who was part of the Indian Premier League playing for Deccan Chargers Hyderabad, said.
"I believe the Olympic Games is the vehicle the sport should use to aggressively sell the message of our sport to all 202 competing Olympic nations, so our sport is strong and robust in countries where it is currently played and exciting and ground-breaking in countries who haven’t yet caught the 'cricket-bug'," he adds.
Gilchrist, who retired from international cricket earlier this year, said that the incredible success of the shortest form of the game through the IPL means that cricket has shed the image of being long and dreary.
"The IPL has been such a success and has changed cricket forever. I saw the revolution first-hand during my time in Hyderabad.
"Having established one of the most the most exciting leagues in world sport Mr Pawar, Mr Manohar, Mr Modi and their colleagues at BCCI along with David Morgan, Mr Bindra and their friends at ICC can now reach for the stars and ensure that Indian cricketers — and others — are winning medals on the world’s biggest stage: The Olympic Games," he writes.
He adds that the introduction of cricket in the Olympics would mean countries like the US and China could become competitive in a much shorter span of time.
Gilchrist also argues for cricket to be played in the Olympics by both men and women, and says that the Olympics "will lead to more Test playing nations, something that the sport will need in the coming century."
"I look forward to the day when Australia takes on Italy in a Test match in Rome."
The three-time World Cup winner also explains that cricket in the Olympics will not lead to any clashes with bilateral tours and other series played during the year as it needs only a two-week window for the Games.
He also adds that the Games will also add a sense of greater pride to cricket. "Take it from someone who has won almost everything cricket has to offer — the Olympics is the absolute pinnacle in sport."
"Cricketers won’t care about the money. The chance to stand on top of the Olympic podium, to wear an Olympic gold medal and the pride of belting out your national anthem would be a life-changing money-can’t-buy experience," he adds.
Gilchrist urges cricket's flag bearers to go all out on making this dream a reality.
"The Olympic movement knows it needs to increase its presence in the Asian sub-continent as India, Pakistan and Bangladesh contribute nearly 22 per cent of the world’s population," says the left-hander.
"If everyone in the sport grasps this opportunity then Twenty20 gold in the 2020 Olympic Games could well be a reality for India and its cricket-crazy fans."
"This may seem like a pipe dream but it is a potential reality. It doesn’t matter where the 2020 Olympic Games are held but many of us who’ve experienced international Twenty20 cricket and the IPL are convinced that cricket should bid to become an Olympic sport in time for the 2020 Olympic Games, wherever they’re held," GIlchrist wrote in his column for Deccan Herald.
Gilchrist says that after a prolonged hiatus from the pinnacle event in world sport (Cricket was included only once in the Olympics in 1900), the time has come for the Gentleman's game to be a permanent part, especially with the advent of Twenty20.
"Now is the time for the 10 full member-nations of the ICC to plan for the development of the sport over the next 100 years. Over the next century, the challenge for all of us who love the game is to spread the word of cricket to parts of the globe that have never heard of it and currently don’t play our sport," Gilchrist, who was part of the Indian Premier League playing for Deccan Chargers Hyderabad, said.
"I believe the Olympic Games is the vehicle the sport should use to aggressively sell the message of our sport to all 202 competing Olympic nations, so our sport is strong and robust in countries where it is currently played and exciting and ground-breaking in countries who haven’t yet caught the 'cricket-bug'," he adds.
Gilchrist, who retired from international cricket earlier this year, said that the incredible success of the shortest form of the game through the IPL means that cricket has shed the image of being long and dreary.
"The IPL has been such a success and has changed cricket forever. I saw the revolution first-hand during my time in Hyderabad.
"Having established one of the most the most exciting leagues in world sport Mr Pawar, Mr Manohar, Mr Modi and their colleagues at BCCI along with David Morgan, Mr Bindra and their friends at ICC can now reach for the stars and ensure that Indian cricketers — and others — are winning medals on the world’s biggest stage: The Olympic Games," he writes.
He adds that the introduction of cricket in the Olympics would mean countries like the US and China could become competitive in a much shorter span of time.
Gilchrist also argues for cricket to be played in the Olympics by both men and women, and says that the Olympics "will lead to more Test playing nations, something that the sport will need in the coming century."
"I look forward to the day when Australia takes on Italy in a Test match in Rome."
The three-time World Cup winner also explains that cricket in the Olympics will not lead to any clashes with bilateral tours and other series played during the year as it needs only a two-week window for the Games.
He also adds that the Games will also add a sense of greater pride to cricket. "Take it from someone who has won almost everything cricket has to offer — the Olympics is the absolute pinnacle in sport."
"Cricketers won’t care about the money. The chance to stand on top of the Olympic podium, to wear an Olympic gold medal and the pride of belting out your national anthem would be a life-changing money-can’t-buy experience," he adds.
Gilchrist urges cricket's flag bearers to go all out on making this dream a reality.
"The Olympic movement knows it needs to increase its presence in the Asian sub-continent as India, Pakistan and Bangladesh contribute nearly 22 per cent of the world’s population," says the left-hander.
"If everyone in the sport grasps this opportunity then Twenty20 gold in the 2020 Olympic Games could well be a reality for India and its cricket-crazy fans."
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